Added value of three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in assessment of an adult patient with atrioventricular septal defect.

Transthoracic echocardiography is the principal imaging modality for assessment of patients with atrioventricular septal defects. Three-dimensional echocardiography streamlines and simplifies data acquisition offering a unique realistic en-face display of heart valves and septal defects and enables accurate evaluation of the cardiac anatomy, dynamic, and function. We demonstrated an added value of three-dimensional echocardiography in assessment of an adult patient with atrioventricular septal defect and its advantages over conventional echocardiography.

[Focal therapy in prostate cancer: rationale, results and perspectives]. / Thérapie focale du cancer de la prostate: rationnel, résultats et perspectives.

Focal therapy is a novel treatment strategy in prostate cancer aiming to treat only the area of the gland harbouring clinically significant disease. The overall objective is to maintain the oncological benefit of active treatment while minimising treatment-related morbidity. Leading centres are currently evaluating various minimally invasive technologies in a rigorous manner. Oncological and functional results in mid-term are encouraging with low rate of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. However, the oncological outcome needs to be evaluated in the long-term in the light of the prolonged natural history of the disease.

Systolic dysfunction of the subpulmonary left ventricle is associated with the severity of heart failure in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the relation between echocardiographic parameters of subpulmonary left ventricular (LV) size and function, and the severity of heart failure in patients with a systemic right ventricle (SRV). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 157 patients (89 post Mustard/Senning operations, 68 with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries [ccTGA]) were included. The size and function of the SRV and subpulmonary LV were assessed on the most recent echocardiographic exam. Clinical data were collected from the electronic records. The majority (133, 84.7%) were in NYHA functional class 1-2. Median BNP concentration was 79.5[38.3-173.3] ng/l, and 100 (63.7%) patients were receiving heart failure therapy. Both LV and SRV fractional area change (FAC) differed significantly between patients with NYHA class 1-2 vs 3-4 (48[41.5-52.8]% vs 34[28.6-38.6]%, p < 0.0001 and 29.5[23-35]% vs 22[20-27]%, p < 0.0001, respectively), but LV FAC had a higher discriminative power for functional class >2 than SRV FAC (AUC 0.90, p < 0.0001 vs 0.79; p < 0.0001, respectively). A LV FAC cut-off value <39.2% had the highest accuracy in identifying patients with NYHA class 3-4 (sensitivity 83% and specificity 88%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, LV FAC and SRV FAC independently associated to NYHA class 3-4 (OR 0.80 [95%CI 0.72-0.88], p < 0.0001 and OR 0.85 [95%CI 0.76-0.96], p = 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Subpulmonary LV systolic dysfunction is associated with NYHA functional class 3-4 in patients with ccTGA or after Mustard or Senning operation. Careful evaluation of the subpulmonary LV should be a part of the routine assessment of patients with a SRV.

High rate of completion of preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection among asylum seekers in a Swiss Canton.

BACKGROUND: Preventive treatment may avoid future cases of tuberculosis among asylum seekers. The effectiveness of preventive treatment depends in large part on treatment completion. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, asylum seekers of two of the Swiss Canton Vaud migration centres were screened with the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA). Those with a positive IGRA were referred for medical examination. Individuals with active or past tuberculosis were excluded. Preventive treatment was offered to all participants with positive IGRA but without active tuberculosis. The adherence was assessed during monthly follow-up. RESULTS: From a population of 393 adult migrants, 98 (24.9%) had a positive IGRA. Eleven did not attend the initial medical assessment. Of the 87 examined, eight presented with pulmonary disease (five of them received a full course of antituberculous therapy), two had a history of prior tuberculosis treatment and two had contraindications to treatment. Preventive treatment was offered to 75 individuals (4 months rifampicin in 74 and 9 months isoniazid in one), of whom 60 (80%) completed the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The vulnerability and the volatility of this population make screening and observance of treatment difficult. It seems possible to obtain a high rate of completion using a short course of treatment in a closely monitored population living in stable housing conditions.